28/05/2017

Name of the Week: Mason

Origin:

Mason is an English occupational surname, in use since the 12th century, denoting a stoneworker: a person skilled in cutting and shaping stone. The English name derived from from the Old French masson, maçon "stone mason."

As craftsmen, masons belonged to a guild, but because of their nomadic lifestyle — moving to where the work was — the stonemason's guild was an international one and eventually evolved into the fraternal Society of Freemasonry, now known commonly as "Masons."

Usage:

Like most surnames, we can find Mason used as a given name in Britain in the 16th century, often used in honour of a godparent or a family member. It wasn't uncommon for children to be given their mother's maiden name as a given name, and sometimes children born outside of marriage (especially in rural areas) were given their father's surname as a first name so that paternity was - quite literally - labelled.

Data from the 1881 census ranks the surname Mason at #74 in Britain. In terms in numbers, the surname was most common in England, but per 100,000 people, we can also see pockets of use in Scotland and Wales. The use of Mason as a given name is broadly in line with the areas where the surname was most common, and particularly notable in the North of England.

Data from the Surname Atlas (click to enlarge)

Mason was used consistently as a given name in the 19th century in England and Wales, but it was never especially common. It became rare in use in the early 20th century, picking up at the end of the century

Mason was a natural successor to Jason — in the top 100 from 1864 until 2002 — and fits in perfectly with the fashion for two-syllable ends in -n names, as well as surnames-turned-first names: a style very much adopted from America.

Abby at Appellation Mountain points out that S.E. Hinton novel Tex (published in 197 and adapted as a movie in 1982) may have been an influence, given the books' success.

(click to enlarge)

In 1997, Mason hit the top 100 in America at #89, while it ranked #131 (295 births) in England and Wales and #226 (10 births) in Scotland.

By 1999, Mason had joined the top 100 in England and Wales at #99 (511 births) and had more than doubled in number by 2005 when it ranked #60 (1087 births). It's rise was steadily but determinedly progressive until it reached its peak in 2013 at #27 (2724 births), falling slightly to #29 (2470) the following year.

Mason didn't reach the top 100 in Scotland until 2007 when it ranked #91 (74 births). It rose quickly, however, and soon eclipsed the success the name had in England and Wales, reaching #17 in 2012 and peaking at #11 in 2013 and 2014.

Across the English-speaking world (Britain, America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand) Mason has seen a peak from 2011 to 2013 and is now showing signs of decline. Whether this decline will be as steady as its rise, or whether the name will plateau lower down the rankings in consistent sturdy usage, remains to be seen.

In 2015, Mason ranked #31 (2263 births) in England and Wales, #8 in Canada and #6 in New Zealand. In 2016, it was #17 (256 births) in Scotland, #20 (100 births) in Northern Ireland, #4 in the United States and #21 in Australia.

Famous Bearers:

History:

* Mason Chamberlin (1727–1787), English portrait painter and one of the founding members of the Royal Academy.

* Mason Lockwood, character in The Vampire Diaries.* Mason Evans, main character in film Boyhood.* Mason Turner, character on Australian soap Neighbours.* Mason Greyback, character on Wizards of Waverly Place.

Comments

Name of the Week: Mason

Origin:

Mason is an English occupational surname, in use since the 12th century, denoting a stoneworker: a person skilled in cutting and shaping stone. The English name derived from from the Old French masson, maçon "stone mason."

As craftsmen, masons belonged to a guild, but because of their nomadic lifestyle — moving to where the work was — the stonemason's guild was an international one and eventually evolved into the fraternal Society of Freemasonry, now known commonly as "Masons."

Usage:

Like most surnames, we can find Mason used as a given name in Britain in the 16th century, often used in honour of a godparent or a family member. It wasn't uncommon for children to be given their mother's maiden name as a given name, and sometimes children born outside of marriage (especially in rural areas) were given their father's surname as a first name so that paternity was - quite literally - labelled.

Data from the 1881 census ranks the surname Mason at #74 in Britain. In terms in numbers, the surname was most common in England, but per 100,000 people, we can also see pockets of use in Scotland and Wales. The use of Mason as a given name is broadly in line with the areas where the surname was most common, and particularly notable in the North of England.

Data from the Surname Atlas (click to enlarge)

Mason was used consistently as a given name in the 19th century in England and Wales, but it was never especially common. It became rare in use in the early 20th century, picking up at the end of the century

Mason was a natural successor to Jason — in the top 100 from 1864 until 2002 — and fits in perfectly with the fashion for two-syllable ends in -n names, as well as surnames-turned-first names: a style very much adopted from America.

Abby at Appellation Mountain points out that S.E. Hinton novel Tex (published in 197 and adapted as a movie in 1982) may have been an influence, given the books' success.

(click to enlarge)

In 1997, Mason hit the top 100 in America at #89, while it ranked #131 (295 births) in England and Wales and #226 (10 births) in Scotland.

By 1999, Mason had joined the top 100 in England and Wales at #99 (511 births) and had more than doubled in number by 2005 when it ranked #60 (1087 births). It's rise was steadily but determinedly progressive until it reached its peak in 2013 at #27 (2724 births), falling slightly to #29 (2470) the following year.

Mason didn't reach the top 100 in Scotland until 2007 when it ranked #91 (74 births). It rose quickly, however, and soon eclipsed the success the name had in England and Wales, reaching #17 in 2012 and peaking at #11 in 2013 and 2014.

Across the English-speaking world (Britain, America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand) Mason has seen a peak from 2011 to 2013 and is now showing signs of decline. Whether this decline will be as steady as its rise, or whether the name will plateau lower down the rankings in consistent sturdy usage, remains to be seen.

In 2015, Mason ranked #31 (2263 births) in England and Wales, #8 in Canada and #6 in New Zealand. In 2016, it was #17 (256 births) in Scotland, #20 (100 births) in Northern Ireland, #4 in the United States and #21 in Australia.

Famous Bearers:

History:

* Mason Chamberlin (1727–1787), English portrait painter and one of the founding members of the Royal Academy.

* Mason Lockwood, character in The Vampire Diaries.* Mason Evans, main character in film Boyhood.* Mason Turner, character on Australian soap Neighbours.* Mason Greyback, character on Wizards of Waverly Place.